DOE Announces Intent to Issue New Funding Opportunity for Tribal Energy Infrastructure Development

November 13, 2017

You are here

Home » DOE Announces Intent to Issue New Funding Opportunity for Tribal Energy Infrastructure Development

Today, during the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Indian Energy Program Review, Carole Plowfield, Acting Director for the Office of Indian Energy, announced a notice of intent to issue a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) entitled “Energy Infrastructure Deployment on Tribal Lands” later this year.

Through the planned FOA, the Office of Indian Energy intends to solicit applications from Indian Tribes (including Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Village Corporations) and Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations to promote Indian tribal energy development, efficiency, and use, including:

Installing energy system(s) for autonomous operation to power a single or multiple essential tribal loads for a short period of time during an emergency situation or for long-term tribal community resilience.

DOE envisions awarding multiple financial assistance awards in the form of grants. Under the planned FOA and as required by statute, a 50% cost share of the total project costs is required and must come from non-federal sources, unless otherwise allowed by law.

The FOA will build on efforts by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Tribal Energy Program, and the authorities granted to DOE's Office of Indian Energy under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, to accelerate the deployment of energy infrastructure on tribal lands. Between 2002 and 2017, DOE invested nearly $78 million in 250 tribal energy projects implemented across the contiguous 48 states and in Alaska, through funding provided by the EERE Tribal Energy Program and DOE's Office of Indian Energy. These projects, valued at over $150 million, are leveraged by over $73 million in recipient cost share. See the Office of Indian Energy website for a map and summaries of these competitively funded projects. For more information, see past funding opportunities.